Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1126(a) “Driving to Left of Pavement Markings”

A ticket for violating VTL § 1126-a is issued most frequently when it is alleged that a motorist crosses a double yellow line into the opposite lane of traffic. Under the alleged circumstances, the motorist can also be cited with Driving Across Hazard Markings (VTL 1128-d), Disobeying a Traffic Control Device (VTL 1110-a), among other statutes. Pleading guilty to this charge or being found guilty of this charge will put three points on your driving record. The exact fine is up to the judge with the maximum being $150 + $93 mandatory surcharge for a first-time offense. The violation will remain on your driving abstract for approximately 3-4 years after the date of conviction. Your insurance company will in all likelihood raise your rates with this violation appearing on your driving record.

Text of the statute (link)

When official markings are in place indicating those portions of any highway where overtaking and passing or driving to the left of such markings would be especially hazardous, no driver of a vehicle proceeding along such highway shall at any time drive on the left side of such markings

Fighting a 1126a Ticket

What many people do not realize is that it is not illegal or unethical to plead Not Guilty to this violation even if the allegations are true. This is because a Not Guilty plea does not mean you are asserting that the ticketing officer was mistaken or lying. Pleading Not Guilty merely means that you are utilizing your constitutional rights to require that the ticketing officer prove the charges. A motorist that receives a traffic ticket can fight the charges whether they are true, false, or partially true.

In New York State, motorists can retain a law firm to handle their traffic in its entirety. This means your lawyer can file the Not Guilty plea and any other paperwork for you and make any necessary court appearances in your place. You can get the charges reduced or dismissed without taking time off from work or even leaving your home. For more information, you can contact the team at the Benjamin Goldman Law Office. Consultations are complimentary.

Benjamin Goldman Law Office

The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a New York State traffic ticket defense firm. We help motorists all across the state. Our firm has gotten 1126(a) tickets reduced to parking tickets or dismissed in many courts. They include Woodridge, Wawarsing, Bethel, Brooklyn, Thompson, Marlborough, Groveland, Geneseo, Bedford, Wilmington, Colchester, and Mendon. Lawyers at the Benjamin Goldman Law Office are diligent and persistent in their quest to get points off. They pursue all possible avenues and utilize all possible techniques in order to obtain the most optimal disposition. We will be glad to take on your 1126a charges. Contact us at your convenience. We look forward to working on your case.

Fight a VTL § 1126(a) Ticket